Is a boost gauge needed?

[amg merc]

I may be starting one of the longest threads ever but what use is the boost gauge - and why not have a change-up light instead?

[paulcundy]

no its not needed. in fact a total waste of space in my mind. Much rather have an oil pressure gauge.

Luckily I have the shifty lights already.
PauL C

[joust]

Boost guage is very useful to tell when one of your turbo's are on the way out - it tends to wander over 1bar.....

Apart from that - not really much use.

J

[goodlife]

So we'd all prefer swapping the boost guage for Oil temp/pressure guage? Better tell Lee and the boys (oh, I think we just did )

Perhaps then just fit a warning light that activates when Turbo's hit 1.4 bar (or a similar dangerously high boost).

[shadowninja]

useful for tuning...
useful for not damaging the turbo when cold... (keep under 0 bar, depending on where the sensor is) (assume you appreciate that burying the throttle until engine RPM hits 3000 when cold is still bad for a turbo-driven car...

[LaurenceFrost]

A common problem that basically every turbocharged car will incur at some point is a sticky wastegate, or a faulty wastegate actuator.

Either of these will lead to excessive or erratic boost levels and the problem is much better caught sooner rather than later. Although you would usually feel this in the way the car drives, the boost gauge will confirm this for you.

It's also a nice feature. Not many cars have these as standard - in fact, the Escort Cosworth, Nissan Skyline, and the Focus RS are the only ones that spring to mind.

An additional oil pressure gauge is a very good idea though - do the 3R's come with these as standard?

[lotusnobles]

Saab Turbos & my Elan have a boost too! .... Elans also got an Oil pressure gauge, so if any of you boys feel the need to swap! just ask!

[shadowninja]

300zx too I hear.

[AdamF]

Can't you also tell what the weathers like by them???
Do they read differently on different days?
I know the Sierra Cosworth has got a tiny one next to the speedo. Some 200sx have too I think

[dictys]

LaurenceFrost said:

It's also a nice feature. Not many cars have these as standard - in fact, the Escort Cosworth, Nissan Skyline, and the Focus RS are the only ones that spring to mind. An additional oil pressure gauge is a very good idea though - do the 3R's come with these as standard?

Please...

My Esprit has a boost gauge, oil press and oil temp as standard. I would say all are usefull and helped me when I done various modification to the car and caught things like overboost, sticking wastegate etc.

Rgds
Dictys 89 SE